Mitt Romney's comments about 47 percent of the American public being "dependent on government" are causing some discomfort for Republicans down the ballot.

During a debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates vying for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District seat on Wednesday, the GOP candidate, Mark Meadows, made it clear that he disagreed with the GOP presidential nominee.

"It might come as a surprise, but Mitt Romney didn’t call me before he made those comments and ask for my advice,” Meadows said during the forum hosted by WLOS-TV in Asheville, N.C.

"I'm concerned about all 750,000 people,” he added, referring to the North Carolina district. "I am here to represent the people of this district."

Democrat Hayden Rogers said he didn't know enough about Romney's comment to discuss it, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Three GOP Senate incumbents and candidates in tight races have also run away from Romney's 47-percent remarks: Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Linda McMahon in Connecticut. On Wednesday, Wisconsin's former Gov. Tommy Thompson broke that trend and stood by Romney.

Republican senators dodged reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, seemingly to avoid discussing the subject. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said, however, that he didn't believe there was "a great concern" among Republicans about what the GOP nominee said.

Correction: The original post incorrectly stated that Meadows has endorsed Obama; he has endorsed Romney.